Video & Transcript Research : 'border security infrastructure'

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US
Transcript Highlights:
  • Your advice would cover visa operations and border security. hiring and firing decisions for personnel
  • border.
  • He wants them to have have security.
  • and our national security.
  • . and our national security interests.
Summary: The committee meeting was focused on various key issues, including the implications of recent violence in the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy in relation to Israel and Panama. Members discussed the need for diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Israeli officials following the recent attack by Hamas. Governor Huckabee emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and reiterated the need for accountability for terrorist organizations involved in violent acts against civilians. Senators shared their concerns regarding the ramifications of U.S. actions in Panama and the presence of Chinese influence, highlighting the significance of the Panama Canal in terms of trade and security.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/09/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, and Lieutenant Curtis Wilkins, Sergeant Ryan Olmstead, Border
  • and movement; HB 4027, Charlie Kirk Highway, transportation and infrastructure.
  • HB 4027, Charlie Kirk Highway, transportation and infrastructure; HB 4028, a sex re-dew, government;
  • HB 4029, income tax, ways and means; HB 4030, rat rate taxes; HB 4031, special place infrastructure;
  • We're going to keep fighting because we know that secure elections are the foundation of our republic
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of Dr. Jimmy Sade as Doctor of the Day. Members also read a proclamation commending law enforcement and Border Patrol personnel involved in rescuing an eight-year-old boy from a human trafficking situation, with several members praising the interagency cooperation and the officers’ actions. The chamber then handled routine desk business, committee substitutions, first and second readings of numerous bills, and reported attendance at 56 present, three absent, and one excused. The Committee of the Whole considered HB 2096, HB 2173, HB 2451, and HCR 2001. HB 2096, HB 2173, and HB 2451 each received do-pass recommendations, while HB 2121 was retained on the calendar. HCR 2001, a proposed constitutional amendment on election requirements, drew extended debate over voter ID, mail ballots, ballot deadlines, and election security. A subfloor amendment was adopted by a 32-26 vote, and the amended resolution then received a do-pass recommendation. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, and the measures were assigned accordingly. On third reading, the House passed HB 2010 on digital consumer licensing disclosures by 59-0, HB 2132 on drug offenses by 59-0, HB 2155 on the Arizona Beef Council by 57-2, HB 2178 on state agency licensure requirements by 51-9, HB 2310 on employment relationships by 59-0, and HB 2395 on a Department of Education fitness-related measure by 59-0. HCR 2001 also passed on third reading by 32-27 and was sent to the Senate. Several members explained their votes, with supporters emphasizing election integrity and consumer or public-safety benefits, and opponents criticizing the election measure as restrictive and unnecessary. The House then heard multiple personal privilege remarks and announcements, including a proclamation for Cary Elwes Day, birthday and community notices, and a request for JLBC to review election-related funding. Committee meeting announcements followed, additional bill referrals and withdrawals were announced, and the House adjourned until 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 02/18/26

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um you uh allocated food security.
  • So, for our state border-to-border grant program, it was established in 2014.
  • dollars towards the borderto- border dollars towards the borderto- border grant<00:53:19.040>
  • So our original plan was to match border to border.
  • <01:10:02.000> The infrastructure. It's in the ground. The infrastructure.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • For a very complex and large infrastructure project here in the state.
  • that be information security, physical security, things of those natures, is what is being held that
  • Not the specific weakness of the security, but noting there was a security issue.
  • As you all know, I represent a border district.
  • At the San Ysidro border crossing, which is the largest, most transited border crossing in the world,
Keywords: 987, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Jun 24th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Pueblo is working to secure funding for construction, utility, and site infrastructure.
  • Due to multiple jurisdictional, uh, we, we are bordered by Forest Service, we're bordered by BLM, we're
  • Uh, I go up all the way to the border, uh, through Chama.
  • Border lax digital. They want to build a digital campus.
  • , water security, and the strategic um position.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Taxes - 04/16/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • Stadium and and stadium infrastructure Stadium and and stadium infrastructure effective<00:09:01.839
  • border city subdivision 6A, additional border city allocations.<01:45:12.719> And<01:45:12.960
  • And so when I look at these um border And so when I look at these um border city<01:49:49.119>
  • existing border cities allocation. existing border cities allocation.
  • city has grown 33% since the border city has grown 33% since the border cities<01:56:04.000>
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <03:02:25.920> Clean secure our border. That's it. Clean secure our border. That's it.
  • Secure the border. Protect American families. And I'll yield back. I choose secure borders.
  • Now, I support a secure border.
  • The American people deserve a secure border. They want a secure border.
  • They want a deserve a secure border. They want a secure<05:53:23.360> border.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • you know, safe and secure. you know, safe and secure.
  • cross-border capital. cross-border capital.
  • issue a secure security? issue a secure security?
  • cross-border payments. cross-border payments.
  • <01:40:32.840> And security checks. So, it's software. And security checks.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the April 6 and May 4 minutes, with minor corrections noted to the May minutes. The main presentation came from JD of Link Network, introduced by Dan Cohen, who described Link’s work with crypto.com and other market participants on tokenized money market funds and real-time settlement for institutional clients. JD gave a detailed history of his earlier work developing the Arca U.S. Treasury Fund and ArCoin, emphasizing that the project was built within existing SEC and 1940 Act frameworks and was intended to use blockchain technology for a traditional asset rather than create a crypto product. He said the effort involved years of discussions with the SEC, multiple custodians, and partners such as U.S. Bank, T-Zero Securities, and Tassat, and that the model eventually led to Link’s settlement system. He highlighted concerns that shaped the design, including regulatory compliance, privacy for institutional users, and the need to bridge traditional banking hours with 24/7 digital asset markets. The presentation also described Link’s features, including segregated and bankruptcy-remote fund structures, tokenized deposit and treasury fund settlement, and “yield in transit,” which allows interest to accrue and be distributed daily down to a two-second block. JD said the platform is being expanded for use cases such as exchange liquidity, cross-border capital movement, off-exchange collateral, stablecoin bridging, treasury management, and peer-to-peer settlement. He closed by posing policy questions for the commission about the use cases for stablecoins versus tokenized money market funds in New Hampshire and whether the state could issue or administer a security-based program with appropriate compliance controls.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 27th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • plans and... ...documents depicting 911, the 911 and public safety radio communication system infrastructure
Bills: SJR37, SJR57, SCR8, SB8, SB108, SB125, SB251, SB318, SB378, SB379, SB396, SB472, SB487, SB503, SB533, SB565, SB583, SB608, SB650, SB686, SB689, SB707, SB710, SB763, SB854, SB875, SB916, SB924, SB925, SB958, SB961, SB965, SB987, SB988, SB1006, SB1019, SB1021, SB1024, SB1026, SB1038, SB1146, SB1185, SB1194, SB1202, SB1252, SB1253, SB1330, SB1343, SB1362, SB1497, SB1498, SB1499, SB1527, SB1547, SB1596, SB1697, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SJR37, SCR22, SCR12, SCR8, SB925, SB1362, SB565, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB686, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1302, SB856, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB541, SB379, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB916, SB1352, SB785, SB710, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB961, SB1038, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB1146, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB924, SB1029, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1697, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB378, SB710, SB916, SB1019, SB1146, SB1194, SB1253, SB1499, SB213, SB925, SB1362, SR263, SR311, SR333, SCR8, SB2407, SB2722, SB2949, SB2407, SB2722, SB2949
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • the border, as occurred under the previous president and the previous secretary of Homeland Security
  • patrol uh men and women who are border patrol uh men and women who are securing<02:28:58.160> our
  • fails to secure the border as occurred fails to secure the border as occurred under<02:29:16.560
  • As I said before, the people I go home and I talk to in Texas are thrilled our border is secure.
  • As I said before, the people I go home and I talk to in Texas are thrilled our border is secure.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/16/2026 - Senate Military Affairs and Border Security

Military Affairs and Border Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • All right, welcome back to the Military Affairs and Border Security Committee.
  • Without objection, the Military Affairs and Border Security Committee minutes of February 9, 2026, are
  • And the National Guard exists first to defend our homeland, to secure our borders, to protect our communities
  • This bill does not interfere with training, border missions, or disaster response.
  • Chairman, distinguished members of the Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee, thank you
Summary: The committee first approved the February 9, 2026 minutes and then took up Senate Bill 1618, which would restructure the Military Affairs Commission by changing membership, adding defense and industry expertise, expanding advisory roles, requiring more frequent meetings, and directing the commission to focus on sustaining and attracting military missions and defense-related economic activity. After testimony in support from the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center and a DEMA representative, the committee adopted the Gowan amendment and gave SB 1618 a do-pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1047, the “Defend the Guard” bill, which would bar Arizona National Guard members from being sent into active-duty combat overseas unless Congress has declared war or otherwise expressly authorized the action. Supporters, including veterans and activists, argued it would restore constitutional limits and protect Guard members from unauthorized wars; opponents warned it could harm Guard readiness, federal funding, and the Guard’s role in state missions. After extended debate, the committee passed SB 1047 on a 4-3 vote. Next, Senate Bill 1474 was heard, which would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, prohibit restrictions on such cooperation, and require sheriff’s offices to enter 287(g) agreements under the amendment. The bill drew strong opposition from clergy and community members who argued it would increase fear, racial profiling, and unfunded mandates, while supporters said it would improve cooperation and public safety. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1474 a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1620, which would revise the Arizona Space Commission by reducing governor appointments, adding the lieutenant governor as chair, and making legislative and executive leaders nonvoting advisory members. The sponsor said the changes would better align the commission with Arizona’s growing aerospace and space interests. The bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 5-1 vote. Finally, the committee began consideration of Senate Bill 1365, which would remove the income cap for the property tax exemption available to disabled veterans on their primary residence; discussion focused on the fairness of eliminating the cap, and the committee moved to adopt the strike-everything amendment before the transcript cuts off.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 24th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We've seen that on critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure in the past.
  • The border skipped your family, Bobby. You were on one side of the border.
  • This bill isn't about border security; it's about fear.
  • We need to support federal immigration reform that secures our border because we all want a secure border
  • This is the strongest border security bill in the direction that we could have this session.
Bills: SB37, SJR84, SJR87, SJR27, SB8, SB10, SB227, SB261, SB15, SB12, SB25, SB57, SB127, SB293, SB441, SB3059, SB512, SB241, SB1718, SB140, SB2055, SB2075, SB2018, SB1534, SB1567, SB785, SB1233, SB1580, SB1663, SB413, SB447, SB519, SB467, SB1579, SB1191, SB1021, SB1838, SB2807, SB2835, SB546, SB2121, SB2167, SB2035, SB2024, SB1032, SB1049, SB1266, SB1400, SB1302, SB401, SB1596, SB1281, SB1242, SB1343, SB310, SB1346, SB2753, SB2703, SB2221, SB1719, SB2177, SB800, SB790, SB748, SB571, SB1957, SB1923, SB1896, SB1760, SB1335, SB2368, SB2477, SB2587, SB2972, SB2986, SB2965, SB1563, SB1467, SB1164, SB1137, SB614, SB705, SB961, SB918, SB955, SB869, SB850, SB863, SB1610, SB1055, SB2206, SB457, SB2337, SB1362, SCR9, SB2405, SB2406, SB2407, SB2166, SB2148, SB535, SB777, SB827, SB1141, SB1330, SB1352, SB1664, SB1862, SB1936, SB1453, SB1448, SB1398, SB2137, SB2111, SB53, SB226, SB1677, SB1723, SB1839, SB36, SB38, SB815, SB1856, SB552, SB646, SB37, SJR84, SJR87, SJR27, SB8, SB10, SB227, SB261, SB15, SB12, SB25, SB57, SB127, SB293, SB441, SB3059, SB512, SB241, SB1718, SB140, SB2055, SB2075, SB2018, SB1534, SB1567, SB785, SB1233, SB1580, SB1663, SB413, SB447, SB519, SB467, SB1579, SB1191, SB1021, SB1838, SB2807, SB2835, SB546, SB2121, SB2167, SB2035, SB2024, SB1032, SB1049, SB1266, SB1400, SB1302, SB401, SB1596, SB1281, SB1242, SB1343, SB310, SB1346, SB2753, SB2703, SB2221, SB1719, SB2177, SB800, SB790, SB748, SB571, SB1957, SB1923, SB1896, SB1760, SB1335, SB2368, SB2477, SB2587, SB2972, SB2986, SB2965, SB1563, SB1467, SB1164, SB1137, SB614, SB705, SB961, SB918, SB955, SB869, SB850, SB863, SB1610, SB1055, SB2206, SB457, SB2337, SB1362, SCR9, HB5560, HB762, HB 107, HB 114, HB300, HB138, HB4386, HB2495, HB581, HB3348, HB5323
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Speaker, border security is homeland security.
  • > homeland Speaker, border security is homeland Speaker, border security is homeland security.
  • > border<02:32:28.160> has security at our southern border has security at our southern
  • and Infrastructure Security Security and Infrastructure Security Agency,<02:56:45.920> US<02:56
  • DHS works to DHS secures our border.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Feb 10th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I've always said food security is national security, and I'm very interested in that.
  • The need that we have for water infrastructure in Texas is significant.
  • These events occur because of aging infrastructure.
  • Aging infrastructure and urban expansion increase the need for repair.
  • The Texas-Mexico border is always of concern.
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • We had a weekend at Bernie's for four years when the President failed to enforce our border security.
  • As did Indiana, that we need to secure our border.
  • It can also be reflected in increased costs for more secure transportation.
  • I'm the Ranking Member of Homeland Security, overseeing Customs Border Protection, and very interested
  • This is very much linked to border security in various ways. I would also...
Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation convened to consider the promotion of Coast Guard Lieutenant Samuel Hafensteiner to Lieutenant Commander and the nomination of Stephen Bradbury as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. The meeting highlighted ongoing concerns regarding aviation safety, especially in light of recent aircraft incidents. Members discussed the critical need for knowledgeable leadership within the Department of Transportation to address these safety challenges effectively. Mr. Bradbury's background as a former General Counsel of the Department was presented as a strong asset for the role he seeks.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Aug 20th, 2025

Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • border of Canada, where, say, the Northeast corridor.
  • We are the second largest border crossing in the world.
  • Border crossings, ease of facilitation, and then at the federal level with the U.S.
  • We need continued and additional support for transportation infrastructure.
  • the event and share that back with the organizations to actually secure the events.
Keywords: 988, house, all
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • We know that infrastructure for water supply is extremely important across the West.
  • So at the same time how do we get the permits out the door, get the infrastructure in place, develop
  • While we need all forms of energy that we can get our hands on, there is a premium to secure reliable
  • We've got about 700 miles of our southern border that consists of federal land.
  • So it's a matter of both economic opportunity and national security. My question is for Ms.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Congress, I am delighted that we now have a secure Texas border.
  • We have an important role in our federal government, in our border security, and also in our national
  • trade relationships with Mexico, and, of course, unique immigration and border security concerns that
  • I agree that we need secure borders, economic development, fiscal responsibility, but making it harder
  • -Mexico border, such as those in my precinct.
Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met virtually for its West Texas regional hearing, established a quorum, and explained that the hearing was part of a series of statewide information-gathering sessions before any map was filed. The chair outlined the Zoom procedures, the two-minute testimony limit, and the availability of written comments through the committee’s public portal. Senators also discussed the logistics and transparency of the process, including the expectation that any proposed map or amendment would be made public once filed and that additional hearings would follow. Senator Blanco, whose district includes West Texas and the border region, said the area’s communities of interest should be kept together and warned against repeating the loss of representation that followed the last redistricting cycle. Senators Alvarado, Hinojosa, Miles, and others debated the value of virtual hearings versus in-person hearings, the number of people who had testified, and whether the committee could subpoena witnesses after the regional hearings ended. The chair said he was awaiting legal guidance and would consider a subpoena motion at a formal meeting the next day. A lengthy exchange also occurred over the tone of public testimony and the chair’s view that some comments directed at Republicans and the president had been offensive or historically inaccurate. Invited witnesses and public commenters largely opposed mid-decade redistricting and argued that any new map should reflect population growth, especially among Latino and other minority communities, and comply with the Voting Rights Act. Nina Perales of MALDEF said the hearings were not meaningful without a draft map and testified that Texas has a long history of discriminatory redistricting; senators questioned her about litigation, DOJ’s July 7 letter, and the 2021 congressional map. Tania Chavez Camacho, Luis Figueroa, and several El Paso residents emphasized that maps should preserve communities of interest, avoid cracking and packing, and be transparent and participatory. A smaller number of witnesses supported redistricting, including one El Paso resident who said the current districting leaves the area underrepresented and another who argued that some communities want to return to a map closer to the earlier District 16 configuration. Several witnesses also criticized the DOJ letter as inconsistent with the state’s position that the 2021 maps were drawn race-blind, while others said the current process was too rushed and lacked sufficient public input.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I mean, we have a secure communications room at GOSEP where he can get on secure email and do secure
  • I mean, we have a secure communications room at GOSEP where he can get on secure email and do secure
  • As to protect and secure something in the infrastructure?
  • Again, save lives, mitigate suffering, protect infrastructure, save infrastructure, and provide the resources
  • And inside of that Homeland Security Division, there was a critical infrastructure division and an intelligence
Keywords: 965, house, all
Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 27th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:
  • Item A is a 34.3 million decrease in federal funds related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
  • So we're, we don't have your Social Security number, for instance, but we do, our security is being built
  • A couple of other issues on page 4 are our Texas-Mexico border.
  • , across the border presents some Pretty significant health risks to that population as well.
  • along the border where we, um, monitor it on a daily basis and try to contain it there.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.